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Why you might be already be a Libertarian
The Prometheus Institute ^ | 10/4/2006 | Editorial

Posted on 10/04/2006 8:26:14 AM PDT by tang0r

The libertarian ideology is one of the most misunderstood in American politics. Many citizens don't have any idea what it is. Most of them who do - liberal and conservative - aver that libertarianism is nothing but a worthless form of crypto-anarchy. The author of one recently popular anti-libertarian article, titled with brevity "Why I Am Not a Libertarian," argues that libertarians want to privatize everything, and that since privatization of such things like the Pennekamp Coral Reef in Key Largo would destroy the cute fish and their natural habitat there, libertarianism is not for him. He also alleges that to be libertarian is to support abolishing welfare in favor of ruthless Social Darwinism, and since he doesn't like the idea of handicapped people being tossed in the street, so he rejects that axiom of "libertarianism" as well.  

(Excerpt) Read more at prometheusinstitute.net ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: libertarian; puffpuffgive; thechronic
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To: Scotsman will be Free
Of course illegals would have incentive to come here. It's called work.

How so? Ever wonder why businesses are hiring illegals anyway? Could it be the taxes and regulations and paperwork they have to do for legal U.S. citizens?

If these were reduced or eliminated, employers would have no incentive to hire illegals. Plus you get rid of the handouts and able-bodied U.S. citizens would take these jobs in a heartbeat.

61 posted on 10/04/2006 9:31:39 AM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
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To: nosofar
unwilling to acknowledge that harm to a person's culture harms the person

Naturally, any rational person is "unwilling to acknowledge" such a vapid and empty notion. A criterion that asserts that (for example) limiting how long people can stay on welfare or overthrowing the Taliban regime after 9/11 (both of which upended preexisting cultures) "harms" people (and is therefore morally suspect) can hardly be taken seriously.

62 posted on 10/04/2006 9:31:57 AM PDT by steve-b (It's hard to be religious when certain people don't get struck by lightning.)
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To: ClearCase_guy
As far as I can see, Libertarians support:

This libertarian supports:

  1. Real Second Amendment Rights
  2. Constitutional immigration policies, but a REALLY big wall to keep out illegals
  3. End the Welfare State
  4. One Item Per Bill and Make 'em Read it type regulations for passage of Bills through Congress
  5. Axing any Alphabet agency that isn't specifically authorized by the Constitution. Ie; BATFE, FDA, FAA, FCC, NASA ect...
  6. Letters of M&R to go after terror cells and the States that support them. Why not use ALL of our tools to nab them?

There are more, but these are all my serious hot button topics.

63 posted on 10/04/2006 9:32:49 AM PDT by Dead Corpse (Quam terribilis est haec hora)
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To: Antoninus
Get a bunch of them in a room together and they agree on almost nothing--except that smoking pot is cool and looking at pornography is fun.

How can we smoke pot and look at porn in peace when you religious busybodies are looking through our keyhole?

64 posted on 10/04/2006 9:34:34 AM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
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To: ClearCase_guy
Legalized drugs

Drugs have won the Drug War.

Open borders

Actually, I oppose the Republican Senate, House and President's efforts to integrate Mexico into the United States.

No action against terrorists in other countries

Cobalt jacketed nukes.

65 posted on 10/04/2006 9:35:48 AM PDT by AdamSelene235 (Truth has become so rare and precious she is always attended to by a bodyguard of lies.)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

You are correct on the paperwork hassles, taxes, worker's comp, unemployment, etc. A good framer will work for 15 to 30 bucks per hour depending on location. An illegal will do it for 7 bucks an hour. That is in addition to the costs to the employer. Also, most framers, etc are considered subcontractors so really no additional costs to the contractor. Who do you think the contractor is going to hire? That's just one example. I'm sure that folks in other industries could come up with more.
Seal the borders, end welfare, deport when caught.


66 posted on 10/04/2006 9:37:43 AM PDT by Scotsman will be Free
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To: Hemingway's Ghost
Government should have the power to craft social policy?

They do. They promote marriage, for example.
67 posted on 10/04/2006 9:38:29 AM PDT by Jaysun (Idiot Muslims. They're just dying to have sex orgies.)
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To: antisocial
"the founders of this republic who wanted a seperation of church and state."

Can you back that statement up?

Yeah, it's called the First Amendment to the US Constitutition.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof

68 posted on 10/04/2006 9:44:40 AM PDT by Dracian
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To: Scotsman will be Free
Oh, really! Why is that everytime a thread is started based on a main stream media news article about a supposed police screwup, the libertarian cop haters come out of the wood work trashing all cops?

Because by its very definition, a cop screw-up is more often than not a misuse or abuse of governmental power. One of the main reasons libertarians advocate a limited government is that limited governments offer fewer opportunites for the misuse or abuse of governmental power.

Simple enough to understand, yes?


69 posted on 10/04/2006 9:45:30 AM PDT by Hemingway's Ghost (Spirit of '75)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
"The national LP is the one that's FU'd. I don't support the LP itself."

Until the small "L" gets its own party, people have to base their opinions on the platform that is presented on their website, its a package deal.
If you buy any, you get the package. No thanks.
70 posted on 10/04/2006 9:46:06 AM PDT by Beagle8U (I agree with the Demonrats.....All Queers must be removed from Congress! ( Its for the children))
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To: Jaysun
They do. They promote marriage, for example.

Really? I didn't get married because my government thought I should.

71 posted on 10/04/2006 9:46:24 AM PDT by Hemingway's Ghost (Spirit of '75)
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To: Scotsman will be Free
Oh, really!

Yes really.

Why is that everytime a thread is started based on a main stream media news article about a supposed police screwup, the libertarian cop haters come out of the wood work trashing all cops?

It isn't, you lied.

Hmm? Happens every time.

No it doesn't, you lied again.

Some people don't like cops who abuse their authority. Some are conservatives, some are even liberals. Some are libertarians.

There are probably a few people who describe themselves as libertarians who say stupid crap. Just like there are some people who describe themselves as conservatives who really aren't but say stupid crap. In fact, people like you.

Your blanket statement is imbecilic. And your post was the one that was a rant.

72 posted on 10/04/2006 9:47:53 AM PDT by Protagoras (Billy only tried to kill Bin Laden, he actually succeeded with Ron Brown and Vince Foster.)
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To: Dead Corpse
One Item Per Bill and Make 'em Read it type regulations for passage of Bills through Congress

This is brilliant, and is so brilliant nobody currently in government would ever go for it. Imagine if there were no such thing as "riders?" One can dream . . .

Letters of M&R to go after terror cells and the States that support them. Why not use ALL of our tools to nab them?

This idea rules.

73 posted on 10/04/2006 9:49:15 AM PDT by Hemingway's Ghost (Spirit of '75)
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To: bmwcyle
Libertarians the other liberal meat......good call
74 posted on 10/04/2006 9:49:40 AM PDT by Ouderkirk (Don't you think it's interesting how death and destruction seems to happen wherever Muslims gather?)
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To: tang0r

My wife is already a librarian.


75 posted on 10/04/2006 9:52:00 AM PDT by <1/1,000,000th%
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To: Hemingway's Ghost

You missed my point. I'm not surprised.


76 posted on 10/04/2006 9:53:34 AM PDT by Scotsman will be Free
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To: wagglebee

I thought the hard core libertarians all got pissed off and left.


77 posted on 10/04/2006 9:55:13 AM PDT by bert (K.E. N.P. Foley is why we don't allow queers to be Scoutmasters.)
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To: Protagoras

No, I didn't "lie". You are a liar. There, we are even, and you are still full of lying, libertarian crap. I know what I read, and what I've read.


78 posted on 10/04/2006 9:55:22 AM PDT by Scotsman will be Free
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To: tang0r

Well, the people I work for are anarcho-capitalists. Not sure I buy into all of that.


79 posted on 10/04/2006 9:55:45 AM PDT by GSWarrior
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To: tang0r

"The libertarian ideology is one of the most misunderstood in American politics."

This (mis?)understanding would be the fault of the libertarians themselves.

I remember the words of Harry Browne following 9/11/2001. He blamed America. It might as well have been Noam Chompsky, Osama bin Laden or Pat Buchanan blaming America.

The fact is most Americans DO understand libertarianism.


80 posted on 10/04/2006 9:58:51 AM PDT by truth_seeker
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